The Chicago Partnership

What The Chicago Partnership does

The Chicago Partnership (TCP) is a Chicago-based ministry organization founded in 2009 that operates a multi-denominational network of 14 partner churches and runs structured leadership development programs for pastors, church planters, and ministry practitioners serving in Chicago. Its core offerings include the TCP Cohorts three-year church leadership training program (an 8-month Year One program at $800 per participant with Years Two and Three offered free), the TCP Institute (affordable theological courses hosted at partner churches), the annual Lead the City Conference, the monthly Lead the City Conversations series, and TCP Collectives (small relational gatherings of pastors). The organization also publishes the TCP Weekly Substack, reaching more than 3,000 pastors, church leaders, and ministry practitioners each week, operates a local church job board, and runs Chicago Delivers, its benevolence arm launched during the COVID-19 emergency response in 2020.

TCP's technology footprint is minimal: a Squarespace-hosted website at join-tcp.org and a Substack publication. There is no proprietary software, mobile app, or platform product. Revenue is generated through a diversified set of streams including annual partner church contributions (processed via Donorbox under signed Church Partnership Agreements), individual donations, event sponsorships priced at $1,500 per single event and $5,000 per series, the recently launched Friends of the TCP Weekly annual partnership program at $5,000 capped at 5-6 organizations, and Year One Cohort tuition of $800 per participant. Day-to-day operations are run by a small named team of roughly six individuals led by President Derrick Puckett (Renewal Church of Chicago), Managing Director Samantha Connour, and Director of Leader Development Brian Dye (Mosaic Community Church), supplemented by team members embedded across partner congregations and a board that includes Advisory and Board Members from the partner network. Geographic scope is regional and explicitly confined to Chicago; expansion signals point toward deeper ecosystem integration with national parachurch and academic organizations rather than geographic extension.

Name

The Chicago Partnership

Legal name

The Chicago Partnership

Website

https://join-tcp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Chicago Partnership is a Chicago-based ministry organization that runs church leadership training programs (TCP Cohorts, TCP Institute), convenes multi-denominational events, and operates a network of 14 partner churches serving pastors and ministry practitioners across the city.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Leadership Development and Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (813110), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations (BPAGAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Church leadership development
• Theological training courses
• Church planting networks
• Pastoral leadership development
• Ministry community events

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Church Partner Contributions: TCP Partner Churches make annual contributions to sustain the organization's work. The partner church onboarding process includes a signed Church Partnership Agreement and an annual contribution coordinated via Donorbox. Contributions support church planting, church revitalization, and leadership development across Chicago.
2. Event Sponsorship: Organizations sponsor TCP events including the Lead the City Conversations series. Single event sponsorship is priced at $1,500; series sponsorship at $5,000. These sponsorships support gatherings that equip and connect church leaders.
3. Friends of TCP Weekly Sponsorship: Organizations join as Friends of the TCP Weekly for annual investment of $5,000. Benefits include logo and link in every weekly newsletter (~52 issues/year), two dedicated spotlight features annually, and table hosting privileges at all TCP-hosted events. The program has limited availability (5-6 partners anticipated).
4. Individual Donations: Individual supporters can give to sustain the work of church planting, church revitalization, and leadership development. Donations are processed through the organization's giving page.
5. Cohort Program Fees: TCP Cohorts Year One charges $800 per participant, covering materials and meals. Scholarships may be available for this 8-month training program. Year Two and Year Three cohorts are free to attend.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Chicago Partnership delivers a portfolio of church leadership development programs and resources for Chicago-area churches and ministry leaders. Core offerings include the multi-year TCP Cohorts leadership training program, TCP Institute theological courses hosted at local churches, the annual Lead the City Conference, ongoing topical gatherings, and the TCP Weekly newsletter. Revenue is generated through partner church contributions, event sponsorships, individual donations, and modest cohort program fees.

Product overview

The Chicago Partnership is a ministry organization offering a suite of church leadership development programs and resources focused on making Jesus visible in every Chicago neighborhood. The core offerings include the three-year TCP Cohorts training program (Year One building ministers, Year Two building ministry, Year Three launching ministry), TCP Institute for affordable bible training courses, the annual Lead the City Conference for multi-denominational fellowship, and the TCP Weekly Substack newsletter reaching 3,000+ leaders. Additional programs include Lead the City Conversations (monthly topical gatherings), TCP Collectives (small relational gatherings), Friends of TCP Weekly (visibility partnership program), and the 21 Days of Prayer annual initiative. The Partner Churches Network connects 15+ churches committed to church planting and revitalization. All programs work together to equip leaders for sustainable ministry across Chicago's diverse church landscape.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TCP Cohorts A three-year church leadership training program gathering 20-30 Chicago leaders monthly on Saturdays (October-May) over 8 months to learn theology, personal formation, contextual ministry, disciple-making, and leadership development for sustainable ministry in Chicago. Year One costs $800 per participant; Years Two and Three are free. Led by Brian Dye and Larry Perez.
• TCP Institute Affordable and accessible bible training courses facilitated by TCP team members and hosted at local churches, covering topics such as How to Study the Bible, Intro to Spiritual Formation, and Galatians for congregants and leaders without time or resources for seminary.
• Lead the City Conference An annual vibrant, diverse, multi-denominational gathering of Chicago leaders, organizations, and congregations for encouragement, fellowship, and celebration of Christ's church in Chicago.
• TCP Weekly A weekly Substack publication serving as a trusted source for local church events, news, resources, jobs, and stories, reaching over 3,000 pastors and church leaders across Chicago for over five years.
• TCP Partner Churches Network A growing network of 15+ local churches committed to making Jesus visible in every neighborhood of Chicago through church planting, church revitalization, and church leadership training, with partner churches making annual financial contributions.
• Lead the City Conversations Monthly topical gatherings for local ministers and leaders, often in partnership with local organizations, offering discussion and learning around particular topics along with connection, worship, and prayer.
• Friends of TCP Weekly An annual partnership program connecting organizations to 3,000+ pastors and church leaders across Chicago through consistent visibility in weekly newsletters, including logo and link in every newsletter, two dedicated spotlight features annually, and table hosting privileges at TCP events. Limited to 5-6 organizations.
• TCP Collectives Small, relational gatherings of pastors and ministry leaders who meet regularly to share a meal, learn together, and encourage one another in gospel-centered ministry across Chicago.
• 21 Days of Prayer An annual citywide prayer initiative in partnership with Together Chicago and Chicagoland United in Prayer, featuring daily devotional videos from local pastors and leaders focused on the book of Nehemiah.

Quantifiable outcome

• TCP Cohorts train 20-30 leaders per year across three-year tracks (Year One, Two, Three), with topics including Chicago history, Gospel Theology, Culture & Contextualization, Community Engagement, Personal Life of a Minister, Culture of Discipleship, Leadership Development, and Emotional Health.

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Branch ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. Branch Church participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact.
• The BrookcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. The Brook participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact.
• Church in the SquarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. Church in the Square participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact.
• Church of the BelovedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. Church of the Beloved participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact.
• Flourish ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. Flourish Church participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact.
• Harvest Bible ChapelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. Harvest Bible Chapel participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact.
• Holy Trinity ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. Holy Trinity Church participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact.
• Immanuel Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. Immanuel Baptist Church participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact.
• The Moody ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. The Moody Church participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact.
• New Life Community Humboldt ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. New Life Community Humboldt Park participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact.
• Park Community ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. Park Community Church participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact. Host venue for some TCP events.
• Progressive Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. Progressive Baptist Church participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact.
• Renewal Church of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. Renewal Church of Chicago participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact. Host venue for some TCP events.
• Salem Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. Salem Baptist Church participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact.
• U-Turn Covenant ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCP Partner Church. U-Turn Covenant Church participates in the TCP partner church network committed to making Jesus visible in Chicago neighborhoods through collaborative leadership development and gospel impact.
• ExponentialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent co-presenter for Lead the City Conversations: Are We Leading from Wholeness? (May 2026). Exponential is a church planting organization that collaborated with TCP on this event.
• Chicagoland CollectiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent co-presenter for Lead the City Conversations: Are We Leading from Wholeness? (May 2026). Collaborative marketing partner for this gathering of Chicago pastors and ministry leaders.
• Wheaton College Graduate SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent co-presenter for Lead the City Conversations: Are We Leading from Wholeness? (May 2026). Wheaton College Graduate School co-presented this event.
• CrosswayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent co-presenter for Lead the City Conversations: Are We Leading from Wholeness? (May 2026). Crossway provided complimentary copies of 'Ancient Wisdom for the Care of Souls' for registered attendees.
• Northern SeminaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of the 'Empire or Kingdom?' Lead the City Conversations event (March 2026, Chicago stop of the Midnight of an Empire tour with Sho Baraka and Malcolm Foley). Northern Seminary co-brought the event with TCP.
• Together ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 21 Days of Prayer 2026 initiative (January 12 - February 1, 2026). Together Chicago co-organized this citywide prayer movement with TCP and Chicagoland United in Prayer, culminating in a unified gathering at Moody Bible Institute.
• Chicagoland United in PrayerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 21 Days of Prayer 2026 initiative (January 12 - February 1, 2026). Chicagoland United in Prayer co-organized this citywide prayer movement with TCP and Together Chicago, culminating in a unified gathering at Moody Bible Institute.
• New Life CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of 'A Call to Prayer in a Time of Crisis' event (November 1, 2025, at Little Village Arch). New Life Centers partnered with TCP and other organizations for this citywide prayer gathering.
• World Relief ChicagolandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of 'A Call to Prayer in a Time of Crisis' event (November 1, 2025, at Little Village Arch). World Relief Chicagoland partnered with TCP and other organizations for this citywide prayer gathering.
• NewThing Chicagoland MovementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of 'A Call to Prayer in a Time of Crisis' event (November 1, 2025, at Little Village Arch). NewThing Chicagoland Movement partnered with TCP and other organizations for this citywide prayer gathering.
• Chicagoland DMM PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of 'A Call to Prayer in a Time of Crisis' event (November 1, 2025, at Little Village Arch). Chicagoland DMM Partnership partnered with TCP and other organizations for this citywide prayer gathering.
• Red De OracionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of 'A Call to Prayer in a Time of Crisis' event (November 1, 2025, at Little Village Arch). Red De Oracion partnered with TCP and other organizations for this citywide prayer gathering.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• 9Marks: Church health and pastoral training organization producing conferences, books, and a network of partner churches. Comparable to TCP in providing pastoral leadership content and church-revitalization focus, though operating nationally rather than city-bound.
• The Gospel Coalition: Broad evangelical fellowship that produces conferences, resources, and a network of churches with theological alignment. Comparable to TCP in multi-denominational church focus and content-driven engagement, though operating at national rather than city scale.
• Send Network (NAMB): North American Mission Board's church planting network providing assessment, training, and coaching for planters. Comparable to TCP in cohort-style training pipelines and church-planting mission, though backed by a denomination and operating nationally.

Direct peers

• Converge: Baptist-rooted church planting and missions network supporting church planters and partner churches across regions. Comparable to TCP in church-planting mission, partner church model, and regional leadership development events.
• Exponential: National church planting network that hosts conferences, training events, and resources for church planters. Directly comparable to TCP as a multi-denominational church planting organization; Exponential is a current GTM partner of TCP for Lead the City Conversations.
• Acts 29 Network: Multi-denominational church planting network providing training, conferences, and partner church support across the U.S. Comparable to TCP in mission (plant and revitalize churches, develop leaders) and in operating as a partner-network model with annual church memberships.
• ARC (Association of Related Churches): Cooperative of independent churches that provides leadership development, church planting resources, and a peer network. Comparable to TCP in offering cohort-style leadership training, partner church onboarding, and annual contribution-based membership.
• NewThing Network: Church planting movement with city-based networks ('NewThing [City]') that train and deploy church planters. Highly comparable to TCP in using a city-centric, partner-church-driven model; NewThing Chicagoland is also listed as a current TCP event partner.
• Together Chicago: City-focused ministry coalition that convenes Chicago churches and civic initiatives including the 21 Days of Prayer. Comparable to TCP as a multi-denominational, city-bound network; Together Chicago is also a current TCP partner on citywide prayer initiatives.

Regional players

• Chicagoland Collective: Chicago-area collaborative of church planters and pastors that convenes gatherings and shares resources. Comparable to TCP as a local network serving Chicago ministry leaders, with overlapping partner churches and joint event programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thechicagopartnership
• Xx.com/ChiPartnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thechicagopartnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Chicago Partnership